Improvement in envelopes



UNITED STATES PATENT A OFFICE.

ADDISON O. FLETCHER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN ENVELOPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 157,167, dated November 24, 1874; application iiled November 17, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ADDIsoN G. FLETCHER, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter-Envelope, of which the following is a specification:

This invention has for its object the production of a combined envelope and sheet of paper, in such a manner that the two are produced by a proper form imparted to the sheet of paper, and then folding the same 5 the sealing of the parts being such as to effectually preserve from observation its written content-s or inclosure, but at the same time admit of an inspection of its written surface without defacing, injuring, or separating its gummed or sealed wings or iiaps.

To suoli end my invention consists in constructing a sheet of note, letter, or cap paper with one or more wings or flaps upon its side edges, at or about the center thereof, which can readily be formed with each sheet as the same are cut or stamped out, in such a manner that when the paper is folded and brought to the usual length and width of an envelope, so that the wings or flaps will bear upon the free end of the last fold, in such a manner that when the gummed portion is brought upon the wings or flaps, the same can be cemented thereon, so as to close the sheet, and form, to all intents and purposes, an envelope without connecting the first fold; the 'object being to permit such folded portions to be withdrawn, and the contents of the letter inspected, if desired, without destroying the connectingseal.

The invention further consists in constructing directly1 in the angle formed by the wing or iiap with the paper a small cut or slit, in such a manner as to form a start or commencement for the severing of the win g or flap .from the sheet of paper when it is desired to open the main connecting-fold.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a top or plan view of my improved letter-envelope with the wings or ilaps extended. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the lower member of the sheet of paper folded, with the win gs in place for receiving the upper fold or member. Fig. 3 is my improved letter-envelope folded .and sealed for transit.

Referring to the drawings, letter A designates a sheet of paper-in the present example a sheet of note-paper being illustrated, though it is evident that the invention is applicable to all forms of sheet-paper, such as letter, bill, or cap paper. Such sheet of paper is provided or constructed with wings or flaps B B, (one or more, as desired,) which project laterally from the sheet, as in Fig. l, or capable of being folded over upon the sheet, as illustrated in dotted lines,v for packing. In order to construct said sheet of paper into the form of an envelope, to constitute what I term a letter-envelope, it is folded as at a, being the proper and customary manner of making a fold, and when this member b of the sheet is brought to the desired position the laterally-projectin g wings or iiaps B are folded over upon such member, retaining it in oontact with the sheet. The free member c is then folded in the manner above stated, and made to bear or come in contact at each edge with the previously inwardly-folded Wings or flaps, when said member c and wings or flaps are permanently cemented or sealed together.

As a sealing medium, sealing-wax may be employed; but I prefer to coat the side edges d d of the member c of the sheet with a suitable adhesive gum or substance, as in ordinary envelopes, so that the parts can be conveniently united by simply moistening the gum and subjecting the parts to slight pressure.

In this manner the written contents of the paper are sufficiently closed to preserve the same from observation, and, at the same time, by leaving the lower fold or member free and disconnected from the wings or flaps and the other portions of the sheet, said member can be withdrawn with comparative ease, and the contents of the letter-envelopeinspected without rupturing or breaking the scaling medium, and can, after such inspection, be inserted into the position which it formerly occupied. When it is desired to open the letterenvelope, this can be easily accomplished by severing, with a knife or finger, the connection existing between the wings or flaps and the sheet of paper, such connection being designated by the letter e.

In order to facilitate the separation of said wings or iiaps from the sheet, I, lin the present example, form a slit or cut in the angular union between the wings or aps and the sheet of paper, as at f, at either or both ends, so as to present a commencing point or start for disconnecting the Wing from the sheet, so as to permit the wing to remain in contact, and move with the top fold or member o, and thus admit of the letter-envelope being freely opened.

The Wings, in the present example, are of rectangular form; but they may be square or oblong, or of any other desired practical shape.

A letter-envelope thus constructed will be mailable under the rate and style ofopen mail matter, and thus be subject to such rateof postage.

In some instances it will be desirable to have a letter-envelope constructed according to my invention, so as to seal it in such a manner as to enable the folds to be iirmly connected, so that neither can be withdrawnwithout breaking the sealing medium. To accomplish such it is absolutely necessary that the wings be constructed with one or more openings, as at g, or with a portion of one or more ot' their ed ge surfaces removed, as shown in dotted lines at 7L. In either case such opening or openings, or removed portion or portions, should be of such size as to insure the cementing substance of the top fold passing through such space, so as to connect with the lower fold, and thus connect the top member with the lower fold, said top member, of course, being likewise cemented to the wings or tlaps. In this manner a letter-envelope is constructed so as to be used either as closed or unclosed mail-matter, and the wings or flaps, being interposed between the top or bottom folds when folded, are concealed from view, and receive the adhesive material of the top fold, so that when the letter is opened the writing is not distigured.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A sheet of writing-paper constructed with central win gs or flaps, having a slit, f, formed at the corners of the wings with the body of the sheet, said Wings or flaps being provided with one or more openings or spaces, substantially as herein shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing l have hereunto set my hand.

ADDISON C. FLETCHER.

`Witnessesz J AMES L. NoRRIs, A. H. NoRRis.Y

'Mm Wan. l 

